Colorado Rockies: The New York Yankees should not be a trade fit for Trevor Story

Earlier this week, ESPN insider Buster Olney recently had a column on ESPN+ (subscription required) where he posits that the New York Yankees are the best fit for Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story in a trade.

That should not be the case. Why?

Well, there’s actually a lot of reasons why a deal between the two teams is just not likely, and, at least from a Colorado Rockies perspective, it shouldn’t be done.

First of all, who would the Yankees trade to the Rockies in return for Story?

According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the Yankees number one prospect, Jasson Dominguez (#27 overall, per MLB.com), is “untouchable” in a trade.

Their #2 prospect, right-handed pitcher Clarke Schmidt, has suffered numerous injuries in the past, and currently, he is out with an elbow strain. Considering how Rockies players tend to have more injuries from going to sea level from altitude and vice versa so frequently, is that something that the Rockies would want to deal with?

Their #3 prospect, right-handed pitcher Deivi Garcia, is their top prospect that isn’t “untouchable” or injured. The good thing for the Rockies is that he has a few games of MLB experience but is currently in Triple-A. He could easily slot into the Rockies rotation by the end of this year or in 2022, at the latest.

The problem after him is that the next top Yankees prospects are in the lower levels of the minor leagues.

The Rockies would have to hit a home run with the deal and the Yankees don’t really have the farm system to do it and, frankly, if Dominguez is “untouchable,” that says a lot. It doesn’t mean that he has to be in a trade but if an answer for trading him for the best shortstop in baseball is a flat “no,” that’s not exactly starting trade talks in a good way.

Secondly, believe it or not, the Yankees aren’t the Yankees of old.

Under George Steinbrenner, if he wanted to trade for the best shortstop in baseball, he was going to do it and if his top prospect had to be in the deal, so be it.

Will the Yankees be willing to fork over $250+ million to sign Story long-term? Considering the way they have been nickel and diming things in the last decade (relatively speaking), that’s not a guarantee.

Also, Story’s personality does not necessarily fit New York. Story is a quiet guy that keeps to himself and plays with a “quiet intensity.”

That’s not a complete barrier for him going to New York, as the same could have been said and still can be said for former Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu, who now is with the Yankees.

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But, for the topper, the Yankees really don’t have a spot for him, unless third baseman Gio Urshela is traded to the Rockies in the deal.

Gleyber Torres isn’t great for the Yankees at shortstop on defense but he has improved this season, according to the metrics. Urshela is at third, LeMahieu is at second, and the 2020 AL home run champ, Luke Voit, just came off the IL and is at first. The most logical move would be to move Torres to second (his best position) and move LeMahieu to third base (where he has played some).

Oh, and also, Miguel Andujar is not going to cut it for being a centerpiece in a deal. His name has been bandied about in trade discussions for everyone in recent years and frankly, with his injury history and how poorly he has played in the majors lately, the Rockies don’t need him and probably don’t want him.

Honestly, the Rockies probably wouldn’t want Urshela either as when Brendan Rodgers returns from the IL here soon, the Rockies would like to have Ryan McMahon at third base full-time and Rodgers at second full-time.

As of now, it’s fitting a square peg into a round hole.

The Yankees trading for Trevor Story would make the Yankees look more like the Yankees of yesteryear. But the Yankees of yesteryear and the Yankees of 2021 are under two completely different operations.

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